OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Fairfax, CA 94930

Fairfax: median income $145,362, home value $1,170,000, $732/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Norwich, NY 11732 84%2,592$148,965$780,800$545 cheaper homes ($389K less) · smaller
Manchester, MA 01944 79%2,707$206,389$942,000$608 higher income ($61K more) · cheaper homes ($228K less) · smaller
Cos Cob, CT 06807 79%2,586$192,115$1,443,200$722 higher income ($47K more) · pricier homes ($273K more) · younger residents
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 79%2,592$157,923$936,300$484 cheaper homes ($234K less) · younger residents
Summit, NJ 07901 78%2,551$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($182K less) · larger
Newburyport, MA 01950 77%2,698$139,625$834,000$552 cheaper homes ($336K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
New Providence, NJ 07974 77%2,549$172,894$758,400$549 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($412K less) · larger
Edmonds, WA 98020 77%678$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · more walkable
Port Washington, NY 11050 76%2,584$154,225$1,035,400$718 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Bedford, MA 01730 75%2,683$172,400$898,500$496 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($272K less) · larger
Essex, MA 01929 75%2,706$156,442$902,000$416 cheaper homes ($268K less) · smaller · newer homes
Concord, MA 01742 74%2,679$195,125$1,218,100$517 higher income ($50K more) · pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Reading, MA 01867 74%2,691$165,912$809,000$473 cheaper homes ($361K less) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98136 74%660$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($245K less) · larger · younger residents
Allendale, NJ 07401 73%2,559$160,162$782,700$485 cheaper homes ($387K less) · 7 min longer commute
Marblehead, MA 01945 72%2,704$179,583$942,200$536 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Needham Heights, MA 02494 72%2,688$179,720$1,107,700$530 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents
Irvington, NY 10533 72%2,572$174,038$874,400$588 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($296K less) · 7 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33156 72%2,600$137,076$1,120,100$619 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
Ipswich, MA 01938 71%2,702$138,750$745,400$421 cheaper homes ($425K less) · larger · less walkable
Greenwich, CT 06830 71%2,584$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($491K more) · larger · more renters
Caldwell, NJ 07006 71%2,554$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($476K less) · larger · younger residents
Leonia, NJ 07605 71%2,568$129,219$672,900$469 cheaper homes ($497K less) · more walkable
Cresskill, NJ 07626 71%2,568$170,376$811,400$547 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($359K less) · 8 min longer commute
River Edge, NJ 07661 71%2,565$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($510K less) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.